Knesset Elects New Israeli President

Reuven Rivlin

Israel’s parliament on Tuesday elected its former speaker Reuven “Rubi” Rivlin to be the country’s 10th President, a mainly ceremonial post that he’ll take when current President Shimon Peres‘ term ends in July.

Rivlin, a 74-year-old member of the center-right Likud party, is a known opponent of the creation of a Palestinian state.

The Knesset elected Rivlinin two rounds of voting. Rivlin defeated Meir Shitreet of the Movement Party in the final round.

Though the Israel president is head of state, the post is basically ceremonial, and much more political power lies with the Prime Minister — a post currently held by Benjamin Netanyahu.